Hi all,
Yet another version of "Frankie" was recorded by the Georgia duo, Darby & Tarlton, as "Frankie Dean". Darby sang lead (I think) and played back-up guitar in standard tuning, G position, while Tarlton sang back-up and played lap slide in GBDGBD tuning. The duo had a sort of combination Blues/Hawaiian sound, vocally, and sang with a very distinctive vibrato. I believe Jimmie Tarlton was re-discovered and recorded at least one album in the '60s. I have their recording of "Frankie Dean" on an old Old Timey LP put out by Chris Strachwitz, "Old-Time Southern Dance Music-Ballads and Songs", that was one of the early Old-Time reissue albums.
SOLO
Frankie Dean was a vag'ant girl, 'most every body knows
She paid one hundred dollars for Albert, a suit of clothes
He's her man, he done her wrong
Frankie went down to the pawn shop, she bought a .44
"I'm goin' to kill that man, just as sure as I can find
He's my man, he's doin' me wrong
Frankie went down to the barroom, called for a glass of wine
She asked, "Mr. bartender, have you seen that man of mine?
He's my man, he's doin' me wrong."
Bartender said, "A-little Frankie, says, I ain't gonna tell you no stories, says, I ain't gonna tell you no lies.
I saw your man about a hour ago with a girl named Alice Blye,
And he's your man, he's doin' you wrong."
Frankie walked out to the barroom, she saw with her surprise
She saw her loving Albert with a girl named Alice Blye,
And he's my man, he's doin' me wrong
Frankie pulled out a little pistol, shot him right through the eye
Said, she shot him once, she shot him twice, he's cried, "Don't take my life!
I'm your man, I've done you wrong."
SOLO
"Turn me over, little Frankie, turn me over slow.
Lord, that bullet in my head, how it pains me so.
You've killed your man, but I've done you wrong."
SOLO
Pull out your rubber-tired buggies, pull out your six-horse hacks
She taken her man to the graveyard, but she could not bring him back
"I've killed my man, but he done me wrong."
SOLO
All best,
Johnm
